US unemployment rate up
The US economy beat expectations by creating 171,000 new jobs in October, but the unemployment rate increased slightly to 7.9%.
The official figures come as both presidential candidates ramp up their campaigning as the race for the White House enters its final stretch. Both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney ended their three-day Hurricane Sandy campaigning hiatus yesterday.
With just five days until the vote, the candidates are still locked in a dead-heat on 47.4%, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.
The president was handed a boost on Thursday when the independent mayor of New York city, Michael Bloomberg, endorsed his re-election, criticising Mr Romney's failure to back climate change measures.